Disappointing take-up of Swiss mobile TV

Take-up of the mobile TV service from Swisscom is not meeting expectations, according to Swisscom Broadcast chief Jean-Paul de Weck, speaking during the Biel Bienne Communication Days (Comdays). The main reason for the slow acceptance is the lack of choice of DVB-H capable handsets.

“Here we have a little problem with the manufacturers. We hope that next year it will be better,” said De Weck in a local newspaper, as quoted by Digital Fernsehen, “With the expansion of the supply of mobile phones and content in October, the DVB-H customer numbers should rise again.”

Up until the end of September, the Nokia N77 was the only handset available to receive the service, though now there are four different models. Swisscom currently has about 5,000 mobile TV users, though it expects to gain more subscribers with the wider choice of handsets.

Swisscom will launch DVB-H based mobile TV service on 13 May

Swisscom has said it will launch Bluewin TV mobile on May 13. The mobile version of the TV service of the incumbent telecoms operator will use a DVB-H network. Bluewin TV mobile will cost CHF16 (€9.94) a month or CHF2 per day day and provide customers with mobile access to 20 channels, including the public services SF1 and TSR1 and commercial broadcasters such as Eurosport. The service will feature an electronic programme guide (EPG) and other additional services.
At the moment, DVB-H in Switzerland reaches 44% of the population. Customers in and around Basel, Berne, Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne will be able to receive UEFA Euro 2008 football coverage with a DVB-H enabled handset.
If viewers are outside the DVB-H coverage area or don’t possess a DVB-H enabled handset, they will be able to receive Bluewin TV mobile on the Vodafone live! portal using UMTS/EDGE, which covers 99.8% of the population